Tabbing mechanism



March 19, 1968 c. v. TAYLOR 3,374,049

TABBING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 war/7% March 19, 1968 c. v. TAYLOR 3,3

TABBING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 2 Ill 56/4/2 ,Ki'az/ar M 4% dymy/ March 19, 1968 c. v. TAYLOR 3,374,049

TABBING MECHANISM Filed April 19, 1966 4 SheetsSheet 4 United States Patent 3,374,049 TABBING MECHANISM Craig V. Taylor, Canoga Park, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Craig V. Taylor and Carl De Wald, both of Van Nuys, Calif.

' Filed Apr. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 543,683

7 Claims. (Cl. 401-171) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tabbing machine is described in the following specification, which takes the form a long tubular instrument which is intended to apply an adhesive under the tabs of composition asphalt, or the like, type of roof shingles, so as to provide a seal for the shingles. The instrument has an internal pressurized supply of adhesive which is discharged at the bottom thereof between a pair of especially configured blades, the blades extending up under the roof shingles when the instrument is in use.

The present invention relates generally to tabbing machines, and it relates more particularly to an improved portable mechanism which is particularly adapted for sealing roof shingles of the composition asphalt or glass type; but which finds general roofing utility, for example, in sealing cracks, and in laying cap sheets or felt sheets.

When composition shingles are attached to a roof, the present-day construction practice is to apply an adhesive, such as mastic, under the tabs of the shingles. This adhesive may be applied manually by dabbing, or it may be applied by mechanical means.

The purpose of the adhesive is to seal the shingles to the roof and assure that the shingles will not be blown off the roof, in the event of a Windstorm; and also to prevent warpage of the shingles which often leads to leaks in the roof. Many building codes require that shingle roofs be tabbed, as this adhesive process is commonly known to the trade.

Manual tabbing is dangerous, time-consuming, tedious and expensive. This is because manual tabbing requires the workman to assume an awkward position on the roof, and to perform tiring manual operations, in order to place a dab of cement under the tab of each shingle. Also, hand tabbing often results in spotty results, often requiring that the job be repeated at the roofers expense.

Because of this, portable mechanisms have been proposed in the past which are intended to provide a continuous head of adhesive under the tabs of the shingles. Such mechanisms have been devised in an effort to speed up the work, and to permit the workman to assume a more comfortable and less tiring position, as he applies the adhesive.

However, for the most part, the prior art tabbing mechanisms have entailed a large amount of equipment, such as tanks, and the like, which are intended to be worn on the back of the operator, or drawn along the roof, and the prior art equipment has also entailed a confusion of tubes and lines.

Moreover, most of the prior art equipments have failed to provide a desired continuous bead of the mastic, which is required for satisfactory tab-hing of the shingles. Also, most of the prior art mechanisms have proven to be awkward and difficult to handle.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved, self-contained, light-weight, portable, semi-automatic, pneumatic tabbing mechanism which is easy to operate, and which can be handled simply and expeditiously in performing its tabbing function.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an improved portable mechanism which may be easily loaded, which requires a minimum of maintenance, and which is capable of a long operational life.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved portable tabbing mechanism which can be used on virtually any type of roof, and under a wide range of ambient conditions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such an improved tabbing mechanism which can be operated by a workman in an upright position, and without the need for the workman to assume an awkward stooping position on the roof, and which can be operated as quickly as the operator can move along a row of shingles.

A feature of the improved tabbing mechanism of the invention is that it is capable of laying down a continuous and uninterrupted bead of adhesive across the full width of a shingle; as compared with the individual dabs of the manual operation, and as compared with the inconsistent and discontinuous beads of the prior art mechanisms.

Another feature of the improved tabbing mechanism of the invention is that it can be operated in conjunction with irregular nails, irregular roofs, and. shingle misalignmeats.

Yet another feature of the improved tabbing mechanism of the invention is that it provides a firm and rigid bond between the shingles and the roof so that the shingles are capable of withstanding even the most severe wind conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be-.

come apparent from a consideration of the following description, when the description is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of a tabbing machine constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, and in use on a roof to apply an adhesive to the shingles;

FIGURE 2 is a further pictorial view of the tabbing machine of the present invention, illustrating clearly the different operating components of the machine;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side view of the machine showing the principal operating component thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of the upper end of the machine, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, showing the pressure regulator controls and gauges;

FIGURE 5 is a side sectional view of the upper component of the machine, taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the details of the pressure regulator included therein;

FIGURE 6 is a side sectional view of the central component of the machine, taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the details of a piston assembly;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional'view of the lower portion of the machine, taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2, illustrating the details of a valve assembly;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the machine illustrating a blade and adhesive outlet tube assembly which are incorporated into the machine;

FIGURE 9 illustrates the manner in which a bead of adhesive may be laid down along a shingled roof and under the tabs of the shingles; and

FIGURES 10 and 11 illustrate various ments of the machine.

As mentioned above, the improved mechanism of the present invention is intended to replace hand tabbing, which has proven to be tedious, messy and expensive; and unlike the hand process, to provide an assurance of completely successful results in each instance. The improved mechanism of the invention also constitutes a distinct improvement over the previous mechanisms of the same general type, for the reasons expressed above.

blade adjust- The unit to be described is a pneumatic powered, semiautomatic, viscous fluid extrusion mechanism. The mechanism, as noted, is light in weight. For example, a constructed embodiment of the invention has an overall weight of the order of 17 pounds, when loaded with the adhesive mastic.

As also noted, the important feature of the invention is that it is completely self-contained, and it requires no extraneous equipment such as air bottles, hoses, or belts, while the unit is in use. Moreover, the improved unit of the invention does not require internal cleaning, so that the need for maintenance is practically non-existent.

The mechanism of the invention, as will be described, includes an elongated tubular handle portion, with a pair of adjustable blades attached to the lower end of the handle portion. As the mechanism is manipulated during the operation thereof, these blades move under the tabs of the shingles. The blades are configured to bridge over the nailed area of the shingles, so that poorly driven nails do not tend to impede the movement of the mechanism. The blades are also adjustable to assure smoother operation of the mechanism regardless of the consistency of the shingles.

The mastic is extruded from the mechanism through a nozzle between the blades. This means that as the mechanism is drawn along a row of shingles, the blades move under the tabs of the shingles, and the mechanism causes a head of mastic adhesive to be formed under the tabs.

The mastic is loaded into the mastic compartment in the tubular handle portion of the mechanism by means, for example, of a ram loader of the type described in copending application Ser. No. 543,733 filed Apr. 19, 1966.

The mechanism is then pressurized by the introduction of a pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, or any other appropriate fluid, into a pressure chamber at the other end of the handle portion. A floating piston is mounted in the handle portion between the mastic chamber and the pressure chamber. A release valve is provided in the passage between the mastic chamber and the aforesaid nozzle, so that whenever this valve is actuated, the pressurized carbon dioxide in the pressure chamber forcesthe piston against the mastic in the mastic chamber, and causes the mastic to be extruded through the outlet nozzle and between the blades of the machine.

A pressure adjustment is provided on the upper end of the machine. This adjustment includes, in the constructed embodiment, a pressure regulator control handle which may be turned until a predetermined pressure is indicated on a pressure gauge on the mechanism.

The constructed embodiment of the invention is capable of producing any size bead of adhesive in a range of, for example, from one-half inch to one-sixteenth inch width. The aforesaid pressure regulator is adjusted until a desired bead width is obtained, corresponding to the particular speed at which the machine will be normally moved along the row of shingles.

As noted, the blades on the mechanism are adjustable to accommodate them to the condition of the particular roof on which the mechanism is to be used, and to the type of shingles and to the manner in which the shingles were installed. The blade adjustment is made so that the blades will not continuously dig into the shingles or run out on top of the row of shingle tabs. Proper blade adjustment is important due to the vast number of variables encountered with composition roofs. For example, the shingles themselves may vary from one brand to another; and the stiffness of the shingles changes drastically with changes in weather conditions.

As shown in the drawings, the improved tabbing mechanism of the present invention includes two tubular elongated barrel-like members and 12 which are threaded to one another in axial alignment. The tubular member 10 forms a regulator and pressure chamber for the machine, whereas, the tubular member 12 forms an adhesive chamber for the machine.

The mastic, in viscous liquid form, is introduced into the adhesive chamber, through an inlet at the lower end of the machine which is normally closed by a filler plug 16 (see also FIGURE 7). As mentioned above, the adhesive is introduced into the machine by means, for example, of a ram loader, such as described in copending application Ser. No. 543,733 filed Apr. 19, 1966'.

Pressurized gas, such as carbon dioxide, is introduced into the regulator and pressure chamber through a coupling plug 18 and from an appropriate source, such as a carbon dioxide tank 2i? which stores the carbon dioxide under pressure. I t

The construction of the machine is such that the pressurized gas in the pressure chamber formed by the tubular member 10 forces a piston 22 (FIGURE 6) against the adhesive in the adhesive chamber formed by the tubular member 12. T l

A coupling 24 (FIGURE 7) is threaded into the lower end of adhesive chamber 12, and the filler plug 16 referred to above is threaded into the coupling 24. A valve housing 26 is pivotally mounted on the coupling 24, as also shown in FIGURE 7.

A pair of blades 28 are mounted on the valve housing 26, as is an outlet tube 30 for the adhesive in the adhesive chamber 12. A plug 32 is threaded into the end of the outlet tube 30, and the adhesive issues through a nozzle 34 in the outlet tube.

A gate valve 36 (FIGURE 7) is positioned in the valve block 26, and the gate valve is normally biased to a closed condition by means of a spring 38. A gate valve is controlled by a cable 40' which is housed in a flexible conduit 42. The conduit 42 and cable 40 extend up the side of the lower tubular member 12 to a valve operating lever 44.

It will be appreciated, especially from the view of FIG- URE 1, that once the tabbing machine of the present invention has been charged, it may be operated with ease and comfort.

The operator grasps the machine in the manner shown in FIGURE 1, and with the blades 28 extending under the tabs of the roof shingles. He then draws the machine along the roof, pressing the control lever 44 to cause the adhesive to be discharged.

As mentioned above, the blades 28 are shaped so that they bridge over the nailed area of the shingle, and can be drawn along without obstruction, so as to lay a head of adhesive, designated A in FIGURE 9. The pressure within the machine can be adjusted to be sufliciently high, so that a continuous bead of adhesive is obtained, regardless of ambinet temperature conditions, so as to form a positive anchoring means for the adhesive.

The pressure within the instrument can be adjusted by means of a pressure regulator handle 50 which is positioned at the upper end of the machine. This handle is adjusted until a pressure gauge 52 indicates that the desired pressure for a particular size bead has been established in the machine.

As best shown in FIGURE 5, the coupling 18 extends into the interior of the pressure regulator, and is normally closed by means of a check valve 52. When the carbon dioxide, or other pressurized fluid, is introduced through the coupling 18, the check valve 52 opens, and the pressurized gas passes down intothe regulator and pressure chamber 54- formed by the tubular member 10.

An appropriate pressure regulator mechanism 56 is provided for maintaining a desired pressure within the chamber 54, this pressure being controlled by adjustment of the handle 50. A bleed screw 58 is provided, as is usual practice, in conjunction with the pressure regulator.

The desired pressure is established in the chamber 54, which is exerted against the piston 22 in the adhesive chamber 60 formed by the tubular member 12. As best shown in FIGURE 6, the piston is floating in the adhesive chamber 60 formed by the tubular member 12, and it is sealed by means of a pair of O-rings 62 and 64.

As shown in FIGURE 5, the lower end of the tubular member 10 has a threaded portion 70 which is threaded into a correspondingly threaded portion 72 at the upper end of the tubular member 12 of FIGURE 6. An appropriate O-ring (not shown) is included in the joints for sealing purposes.

Likewise, the coupling 24 is threaded into the lower end of the tubular member 12 by means of a threaded portion 74 which engages a corresponding threaded portion 76 at the lower end of the tubular member 12.

As shown in FIGURE 8, the blades 28 are mounted on the valve housing 26 by means of bolts 80. The blades are individually adjustable with respect to the valve housing 26 by adjustment screws 81 (FIGURE 2), so that they can have any desired angular orientation, depending upon the roofing conditions encountered.

As shown in FIGURE 2, for example, the main mounting bolts support the blades 28 on the housing 26, in a manner such that each blade may be turned down or up, about the axis of the respective mounting bolt. Thus, each blade maybe set at any desired angular position by loosening and tightening respective ones of its corresponding adjustment screws.

When in operation, the machine moves along a pair of aligned runners 29 (FIGURES 7 and 8), and the tips of the blades 28. The runners move along the shingles on one side of the nailed area, and the tips of the blades run along the shingles on the other side of the nailed area. The intermediate portions of the blades are displaced up from the shingle surface, so as to pass over any nails which may be extending up from the nailed area.

Under some conditions, as when the shingles are in a relatively pliable condition, there may be a tendency for one or both blades to dig into the bottom shingle. Then, the angular position of the blades should be adjusted, such as shown in FIGURE 10.

Conversely, under some conditions, as when the shingles are in a relatively hard and brittle condition, there may be a tendency for a blade to run out on top of the shingles. Then that blade should be adjusted, such as shown in FIGURE 11.

The invention provides, therefore, an improved tabbing mechanism for sealing the tabs of composition roof shingles to the roof. The tabbing mechanism of the invention is particularly advantageous, as described, because it is a small, light-weight and self-contained semiautomatic unit. The unit can be easily filled and pressurized, and it can be conveniently used to perform its shingle tabbing, and other functions, referred to previously herein.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. It is intended in the claims to cover all modifications which come Within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A tabbing mechanism for sealing shingles to a roof, including: an elongated hollow tubular member; a piston slidable in said tubular member; means for introducing an adhesive into said tubular member on one side of said piston; means for introducing a pressurized gas into the said tubular member on the other side of said piston; a further member pivotally mounted on one end of said tubular member; a pair of blades mounted on said further member and adapted to extend under the tabs of a row of shingles on a roof; and an outlet tube mounted on said further member and protruding therefrom between said blades and under the aforesaid tabs, said tube having a nozzle in the side thereof to discharge adhesive along a path normal to the plane of said roof so as to form an adhesive bead under said tabs.

2. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 1 and which includes valve means for the adhesive mounted in said further member, and a control for said valve means mounted on said tubular member adjacent the end thereof remote from said further member, and which includes means for coupling said control to said valve means.

3. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 2 in which said valve means includes a gate valve disposed in said further member for selectively permitting the adhesive to flow through said nozzle.

4. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 3, and which includes an operating handle for said gate valve pivotally mounted on said tubular member, and cable means coupling said operating handle to said valve.

5. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 1 in which each of said blades is mounted on said further member for individual adjustable angular settings each about a particular axis.

6. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 5 and which includes runner means on the bottom of said further member, said runner means and the tips of said blades engaging a working surface when the mechanism is in operation and the intermediate portion of each of said blades being displaced up from the working surface.

7. The tabbing mechanism defined in claim 5 and which includes a pair of set screws extending through said further member for each of said blades so as to set the angular position thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,538,968 5/1925 Burke 222-489 2,137,944 11/1938 Macleod 15--589 2,818,999 1/1958 Miller 222--389 3,016,040 1/1962 Crookston 118305 X 3,173,166 3/1965 Christensen 118-410 X FOREIGN PATENTS 578,563 6/1959 Canada.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. I. R. MCINTOSH, Assistant Examiner. 

